Metallic awning structure



Aug. 25, 1959 N. BECKER METALLIC AwNTNG STRUCTURE Filed Sept.l 9, 1957 United States atnt METALLIC AWNING STRUCTURE Nathan Becker, Miami, Fla., assigner to Seaview Industries, Inc., Miami, Fla., a corporation of Florida Application September 9, 1957, Serial No. 682,689

6 Claims. (Cl. 20-57.5)

This invention is an awning structure and pertains particularly to awning or canopy constructions formed of metal panels secured together in edge to edge relationship.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a panel type roof structure wherein improved means are provided for securing the various panels rigidly in assembled edge to edge relationship and which provides means for firmly holding the various panels properly together and maintaining them against any tendency to distortion or sagging.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cover element formed of a series of panels secured together in edge to edge relationship and wherein the improved means for maintaining the panels thus rigidly assembled also constitutes means for collecting moisture which might fall upon the exterior surfaces of the panels and conveying such moisture and liberating it at the sides of the cover near the outer end thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a roof structure wherein the panels are so arranged as to be easily and quickly secured together in assembled relationship and tied in securely with the supporting rafters for the purposes mentioned. A further and particular object of the invention is to provide a roof structure consisting of a plurality of panels having their abutting edges so arranged as to provide gutters, and wherein the reenforcing beam underlies and interengages with the abutting panel edges in such manner as to reenforce and stabilize the structure as well as to enhance drainage of the gutters.

A further object resides in the specific construction of a cross beam for supporting the panels and the reenforcing rafters, and wherein the beam is so shaped and constructed as to provide a gutter for carrying oil drainage from the several panel gutters.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully described hereinafter, illustrated in the drawing, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view taken longitudinally through an awning roof structure constructed in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the construction and arrangement of the meeting edges of adjacent panels and the manner in which the supporting rafter cooperates therewith, and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through adjacent edges of a pair of panel members and illustrating a modified form of supporting rafter associated therewith.

The awning of the present invention is one wherein the roof is of substantial length commonly used for the protection of a patio or other large space against sun and rain. The roof structure is formed of a plurality 2,9%,62 Patented Aug. 25, 1959 of elongated panels having their longitudinal edges so formed as to nterengage with one another; the inner or upper end of the roof structure being secured to a wall or other stationary structure indicated at W, while the outer end is supported by two or more posts P as may be required.

Inasmuch as the roof structure is of considerable length, the panels of which it is formed must be reenforced against distortion or sagging, and the invention here involved resides particularly in the construction of supporting rafters disposed beneath the various panels at the meeting edges thereof for accomplishing this purpose.

In the present instance, each panel 4 is provided inwardly from one of its edges and throughout its length with an upstanding wall 5 disposed at substantially right angles to the panel body, from which extends in an outward direction a gutter closure top 6 substantially parallel with the panel 4. Extending downwardly from the outer edge of the gutter closure top 6 is a depending wall 7 disposed in substantial parallelism with the upstanding wall 5 and terminating above the plane of the panel section 4. It will be understood that this upstanding wall, gutter closure top, and depending wall extend substantially throughout the length of the panel.

The opposite edge of each panel is shaped so as to interengage with the structure above described. The said opposite edge of the panel 4 is provided with a riser wall 8 of a height substantially equal to the height of the upstanding wall 5. Projecting outwardly from the riser wall 8 and in the same plane with the gutter closure top 6 is a top member 9, from the outer edge of which depends an inner gutter wall 10 having an outwardly projecting gutter bottom 11 disposed in substantially the same plane with the body 4 of the panel. The outer edge of the gutter bottom 11 terminates in an upstanding outer gutter wall 12 parallel with the wall 10, and the upper end of this wall is provided with an outwardly directed locking flange 13. The flange 13 is parallel with the top 9 but is spaced in a plane below the latter. From this construction it is apparent that adjacent ends of panel members constructed and assembled in the manner described provide a gutter throughout the length of the adjacent edges of the panel and through which water may flow to the outer end of the assembled panel sections.

The rafter involving my invention comprises an elongated metal member of rectangular cross section having sides 14 and 1S and a bottom 16. Ihe upper side or top of the rafter is open except for an inwardly directed anchoring flange 17. The width or transverse dimension of the rafter is such that it may snugly engage upon the side 14 with the outer face of the upstanding wall 5 of the panel and with the inner face of its opposite wall 15 snugly embracing the inner face of the inner gutter wall 10. The anchoring flange 17 engages the undersurface of the gutter closure top 6 and overlies the outwardly directed flange 13 at the top of the outer gutter wall. When assembled in this manner, the parts are secured together by suitable screws or bolts 18 passing through the gutter closure top 6, through the anchoring flange 17, and into the outwardly directed flange 13 of the outer gutter wall. It will be observed that the depending wall 7 terminates a short distance above the bottom gutter wall 11 so that moisture may pass through the space between the walls 7 and 10 into the bottom of the gutter. Inasmuch as the rafter extends substantially throughout the length of the roof, the latter will be reenforced in its critical area, that is, at the meeting edges of the panels. The hollow rafter, moreover, acts also as a gutter for the passage of water which might tend to accumulate upon the roof surface.

The rafters terminate inwardly from the lower or outer end of the top, and the several panels are additionally reenforced by a transverse beam indicated at 19 and extending substantially throughout the width of the roof structure and beneath the several panels constituting the same. This beam is formed of suitable metal and comprises a base 20 from which extends spaced depending sides 21 and 22. The base is secured in proper position transversely of the panels by means of suitable bolts 23 as will be understood. The base 20 of the cross beam is provided with a recess on one side indicated at 24 of a depth substantially equal to the depth of the rafter. This recess is provided on the inner side of the cross beam so that the lower ends of the rafters rest upon this base within the recess 24. It will be understood, particularly with reference to Fig. 1, that the rafters are spaced slightly from the end of the recess 24 so that this recess provides a gutter which extends throughout the length of the cross beam, whereby water passing through the panel gutters will enter the recess and travel laterally, being liberated from the cross beam at the extreme ends of the latter.

The cross beam may be provided with two or more shackles 25 to which will be connected the upper ends of posts P to support the outer end of the roof structure. It will be understood that the roof structure will be supported at an inclination in order that drainage may be effectively carried out.

Fig. 3 of the drawing shows a slight modification of the manner in which the rafter may be formed and attached to the panel edges. In this form of the invention, the rafter is relatively narrow, having side walls 26 and 27 and a bottom 28. The wall 26 fits snugly against the outer surface of the upstanding wall of the panel and is provided at its upper end with an anchoring flange 29 to underlie the gutter closure top 6 in much the same manner as in the perferred embodiment of the invention. However, the side wall 27 of the rafter snugly embraces the outer face of the outer gutter wall 12 and is provided at its upper end with an inturned flange 30 to underlie the out-turned flange 13 of the gutter wall 12. A securing screw or bolt 31 passes through the gutter closure 6 and the flanges 13, 29 and 30 to secure the entire structure rigidly assembled.

From this construction, it is apparent that I have provided means for adequately supporting and reenforcing roof panels of unusual lengths in proper assembled relationship without danger of sagging or distortion, and have at the same time provided adequate means whereby drainage of the roof may be effected and the water carried off and delivered from the roof at desired out of the way places. It will be understood that in roof structures of this character which are of considerable area, and where such structures are either adjusted or removed, the rafter here described as well as the cross beam structure bring about effective reenforcement and stabilization to obviate the possibility of distortion or sagging.

I claim:

1. In an awning structure, a pair of elongated panels arranged with their sides in edge to edge relationship, means at the inner ends of said panels to secure the same to a support, one of said panels inwardly from its edge having an upstanding wall at substantially right angles to the panel, a gutter closure top projecting outwardly from said wall at the upper end of the latter and disposed in parallelism with said panel, a riser wall disposed inwardly from the edge of the adjacent panel disposed in parallelism with the upstanding wall of the first panel, a top membenprojecting outwardly from the outer end of said riser walland disposed in the same plane with said gutter closure top, an inner gutter wall depending from the end of said top member parallel with said upstanding wall and spaced therefrom, a gutter bottom projecting outwardly from the bottom of said inner gutter wall, an outer gutter wall rising from said bottom gutter in parallelism with said upstanding wall, an outwardly directed flange at the upper end of said outer gutter wall, a hollow rafter having its sides engaging said upstanding wall and said inner gutter wall, a flange projecting laterally from one of said rafter walls and underlying said gutter closure top, means for securing said gutter closure top to said flanges, and means for supporting the outer end of said panels.

2. In an awning structure, a pair of elongated panels arranged with their sides in edge to edge relationship, means at the inner ends of said panels to secure the same to a support, one of said panels inwardly from its edge having an upstanding wall at right angles to the panel, a gutter closure top projecting outwardlyfrom said wall at the upper end of the latter and disposed in parallelism with said panel, a riser wall inwardly from the edge of the adjacent panel disposed in parallelism with the upstanding wall of the first panel, a top member projecting outwardly from said riser wall and disposed in the same plane with said gutter closure top, an inner gutter wall depending from the outer edge of said top member, a bottom gutter wall connected to the lower end of said inner gutter wall and disposed in the same plane with said panel, an outer gutter wall rising from said bottom gutter wall and in spaced relationship with said upstanding wall, an outwardly directed flange at the upper end of said outer gutter wall, a hollow rafter of substantially rectangular shape in cross section open at its upper end, one side wall of said rafter embracing the inner face of said inner gutter wall and the other wall of said rafter embracing the outer face of said upstanding wall, an inturned flange at the upper end of said other rafter wall underlying said gutter closure and overlying a gutter bottom projecting outwardly from the bottom of said inner gutter wall, said outer gutter wall flange, screws connecting said gutter closure and said flanges, and means for supporting the outer ends of said panels.

3. The structure of claim 2, including a cross beam secured to and underlying said panels and having a recess in its bottom to receive and suport the end of said rafter and constituting a lateral gutter.

4. In an awning structure, a pair of panels arranged in parallel edge to edge relationship, one of said panels inwardly of its edge having a right angular upstanding wall, a gutter closure top portion extending outwardly from said wall spaced from and in parallelism with the panel, a depending right angular flange at the outer extremity of said top portion in spaced parallelism with said upstanding wall, the other panel inwardly from its edge having a depending right angularly disposed inner gutter wall terminating at its lower end in substantially the same plane with the first named panel, a gutter bottom projecting outwardly from the lower end of said inner gutter wall, an outer gutter wall projecting upwardly from the outer end of said gutter bottom parallel with and spaced from the upstanding wall of said first panel, an outwardly directed flange at the upper end of said outer gutter wall disposed beneath and parallel with said gutter closure top, an elongated hollow rectangular rafter open at its upper side interposed between said panel edges with its lateral sides engaged respectively with the adjacent upstanding wall and said inner gutter wall, an anchor flange extending inwardly from the upper edge of one of said rafter sides underlying said closure top portion, and a fastening member passing through said closure top portion and both of said flanges.

5. In an awning structure, a plurality of panels arranged in edge to edge relationship, means at the inner ends of said panels to secure the same to a support, interlocking elements on adjacent longitudinal edges of said panels and integral therewith to hold the same together, a hollow elongated rafter underlying the interlocked edges of said panels and parallel with said edges, means for securing said interlocked edges to said rafter, a cross beam disposed transversely beneath said panels near the outer ends thereof and secured thereto, said cross beam having a longitudinal channel therein to receive and support the outer end of said rafter, and means for supporting said cross beam.

6. In an awning structure, a plurality of panels arranged in edge to edge relationship, means at one end of said panels to secure them to a support, one of the panels inwardly from its edge having an upstanding wall coterminous with said edge disposed at right angles to said panel, a gutter closure top projecting outwardly from the upper end of said wall in parallelism with said panel, a riser wall on the adjacent panel inwardly from the edge thereof and coterminous with the panel equal in height and in parallelism with the upstanding wall of the rst panel, a top projecting outwardly from the upper end of said riser wall and in the same plane with said gutter closure top, an inner gutter wall depending from the outer end of said second panel top spaced from the adjacent end of the first panel top, a gutter bottom extending outwardly from said inner gutter wall and in the same plane with said rst named panel, an outer gutter walll rising from the outer edge of said gutter bottom, an outwardly directed ange at the upper end of said outer gutter wall disposed in spaced relationship and in parallelism with said gutter closure top, an elongated hollow rafter of substantially rectangular cross section open at its top embracing said adjacent panel ends, one side of said rafter engaging the outer face of said inner gutter wall and the opposite side engaging the outer face of said upstanding wall, an inwardlly directed flange on the upper end of the last named side of said rafter interposed between said panel top and said outwardly directed ange, a screw passing through said top and said anges, and means for supporting the outer ends of said panels.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 762,939 Pioch Iune 21, 1904 978,834 Bonness -..Dec. 20, 1910 20 2,701,397 Taylor Feb. 8, 1955 

